Roller spray apron



H. LEMPER ROLLER SPRAY APRON Filed Sept. 9, 1964 lNvEN-ron Herben Lemper gid/ May 9, 1967 United States Patent O 3,318,368 ROLLER SPRAY APRON Herbert Lemper, Pittsburgh, Pa., assiguor to Mesta Machine Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Sept. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 395,158 6 Claims. (Cl. 164-282) This invention relates generally to continuous casting apparatus and more particularly to an improved roller spray apron therefor.

Generally speaking, roller spray aprons comprise a group of roller banks supported in a framework to form a channel of rectangular cross section bounded on all four sides by the roller banks to support and restrain the four sides of a continuous metal slab passing therethrough from a continuous casting lmold while undergoing the cooling process of being sprayed with coolant. The metal slab emanating from the mold is extremely hot and in fact is mostly molten metal surrounded by a relatively thin skin of solidied metal as it leaves the mold. The roller banks in the roller spray aprons support and restrain or hold the slab together in this critically weakened state while coolant is sprayed on the slab to cool and thicken the skin of the slab until it can safely withstand the ferrostatic pressure of the gradually diminishing liquid core of the slab.

A continuing problem with roller spray aprons has been that the rollers in the roller banks, particularly the banks supporting the width of the slab, must be small enough in diameter to be able to place them closely enough together so that a sufficient number of support points for the thin skinned slab are present that a break in the skin, which would release the lmolten interior (called a break-out), will not occur. With the demand for larger and particularly wider (4 feet and more) slabs of the present day, these small diameter rollers must be of such length, that alone they do not have the strength to withstand the ferrostatic pressure of the liquid core of such slabs being cast and bend in the middle from it. Others have tried to overcome this by using shorter rollers assembled end to end to span the width of the slab. This provides the necessary strength to prevent bending by the rollers, but creates a new problem in that the bearing for these rollers that are located in the central zone of the metal slab are subjected to such lgreater heat than at the edges or narrow sides of the slab that it is, practically speaking, impossible to maintain proper lubrication of these bearings. In brief, the close proximity of these bearings to the hottest part of the slab affect the maintenance of their lubrication to the extent that the bearings soon burn up.

Still others have tried to solve the problem by employing back-up rolls, but although this too provided additional strength against bending, it created new problems in that it was virtually impossible and wholly impracticable to maintain accurate distances between the bearings of the work rollers and the bearings of the back-up rollers whereby the rollers were bent when assembled or had to bend to contact the back-up rollers.

I have invented a means that not only solves the necessary support problem but eliminates the lubricating problern as well and presents no new insurmountable alignment problem. I provide work rollers in the form of centerless rollers which do not have any bearings of their own, but which are supported by back-up rolls which take up all the forces from the slab. Because of the better location of the bearings of the back-up rolls away from the slab, one can maintain proper lubrication there and run them at reasonable temperatures. Further, because of the more favorable conditions for the bearings of the back-up rolls, sealed roller bearing type rolls can ICC be employed which minimize friction and maintenance.

More specifically, I provide roller banks for the wide sides of the metal slab comprising a multiplicity of closely spaced parallel centerless work rollers mounted within the roller spray apron adjacent to each of the wide sides of said metal slab and extending across the full width thereof at right angles to the centerline thereof, a multiplicity of spaced narrow-faced back-up rolls mounted on backer plates and disposed in rows with their axes between each of said centerless rollers on the side there- 0f away from said metal slab with each of said back-up rolls bearing against two adjacent centerless rollers in support thereof, there being at least two back-up rolls in each of said rows, and further providing roller banks disposed adjacent each of the narrow sides of the metal slab whereby the channel of rectangular cross-section is formed.

Although back-up rolls having bearings with lubricating means thereto may be used, I preferably provide sealed roller bearings for my back-up rolls.

I further provide that said backer plates have a plurality of spaced openings therethrough with spray nozzles extending therethrough adapted to spray coolant onto the metal slab, with said back-up rolls being spaced on said backer plate between said openings.

I also provide that the centerless rollers be supported at their ends between support members by pins carried by either the rollers or the support members engaged in corresponding -oversized openings in the other of said centerless rollers or support members. This prevents the centerless rollers from leaving the saddle provided by the back-up rollers.

It will be understood that my centerless work rollers can extend entirely across the width of the slab as a single roller or can be more than one centerless roller aligned end to end in axial coincidence to bridge said width, with the back plates carrying supports for the ends of said centerless rollers disposed within said width.

From the foregoing, it should be clear that by providing centerless work rollers with back-up rolls, I not only provide sufficient support to the work-rollersto eliminate bending under the pressure of the slab but also eliminate the bearing lubrication problem and any bearing alignment problems by eliminating the need for bearings for the work rollers in the first instance.

Other details, objects and advanta-ges of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a certain present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown a certain present preferred embodiment of the invention in which:

FIGURE l is a longitudinal cross section of a representative portion of my new roller spray apron;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIGURE l; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the lower portionv of FIGURE 2.

Referring now t-o the drawings and initially to FIG- URE 2, I there illustrate a roller spray apron 10 embodying my invention. The framework of roller spray apron 10 comprises backer plates 11 and side support plates 12 arranged in a four-sided figure of rectangular crosssection and fastened together as by threaded bolts 13.

As there illustrated, the aforesaid framework carries opposing wide roller banks 14 and opposing narrow roller banks 15 which form a channel 16 of rectangular cross section through which the newly cast metal slab (not shown) passes for spray cooling. Roller banks 14 support the wide sides of the metal slab and roller banks 15v posed in oversized holes in'its ends.

'when the width of the slab is overthree feet.

3 support the narrow sides of the metal slab and thus together they support and restrain the four sides of the continuous metal slab passing through channel 16.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 3,'roller banks 14 and are made up of a multiplicity of closely spaced parallel work rollers 17 and 18 respectively. Referring again t0 FIGURE 2, I there illustrate how each of the rollers are supported. As there shown, I provide support blocks 19 fastened to backer plates 11 as by threaded bolts 20. Blocks 19 locate and support pin blocks 21 each of which have a pin portion22 extending through an opening in a corresponding support block 19. Rollers 17 carry holes 23inthe ends thereof into which pin portion 22' extends and it should lbe particularly noted that holes 23 are oversized or substantially larger than pin portions 22. Thus each roller 17 is a centerless roller that is simply located or held in place ink roller banks 14 by pins dis- Each roller 18 is mounted for rotation on a pin 24 which is supported at its ends disposedin openings 25 in pin blocks 21. Each roller 18 is suitably bushed for rotation on pin 24 and suitable fittings for lubrication of same (not shown) are also provided. The lubrication of the bearing bushing of roller 18 does not present any problem because rollers 18 .are located along the narrow side of the slab where the upon the length of centerless rollers 17 which, of course,

depends upon the desired width of the slab being cast.

' At least two back-up rolls 26 spaced therealong are needed though, and in FIGURE 2 I have illustrated three back-up rolls 26 .spaced in each row, which is preferred It will be understood from the foregoing that back-up rolls `26 take vup all the forces: exerted against the centerless work problemscan develop either.

In addition, I have found that the location of back-up rolls 26 is sufficiently removed from the intense heat of the motor slab that sealed roller bearings can be used which eliminates the ttings otherwise needed for lubricating back-up rolls 26 and provides a better situation withregard to reducing friction at these bearings.

Although for the present embodiment I have shown centerless rollers 17 as extending entirely across .the

width of the slab, it will be understood that where even wider slabs are contemplated that it may be more convenient or economical to provide shorter centerless rollers end to end in axial coincidence to span this width. In

such case it is easily understandable that `a loose fittingv Vsupport means like that described earlier for the ends of the centerless rollers 17 can be readily provided for the ends ofcenterless rollers disposed within the width of the slab by securing such means onbacker plates 11with additional back-up rolls to support the greater number of work rollers.

It will 1also be understood that the support of pin portions 22 disposed in oversized holes 23 in the ends of rollers 17 could be reversed without ill effect by instead having the ends of rollers 17 reduced to form the pin portions that would engage in oversized holes in the support members.

Referring again to FIGURE 2, I further show that backer plates 11 have a plurality of spaced openings 27 therein through which spray nozzles 28 extend to spray coolant on the slab passing down channel 16. Back-up rolls 26 should be spaced or located on backer plates 11 between openings 27 so as to minimize or preclude any interference with the spray coming from nozzles 28.

. Referring to FIGURE l, my roller spray apron is supported on beams 30 by appropriate means and as shown in thisinstance is being supported in a generally vertical altitude foruse in a vertical type continuous casting machine. It will be understood, however, that the same may be employed with equal value and advantage in the so-called horizontal or semi-horizontal continuous casting machines; for which I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a roller spray apron for continuous casting machines having roller banks disposed so as to form a channel of rectangular cross section to support and restrain the fou-r sides of a continuous metal slab emanating from a continuous casting mold, the improvement of providing roller banks for the wide sides o-f said metal slab comprising a multiplicity of closely spaced parallel centerless work rollers mounted within the roller spray apron adjacent to each of the wide sides of said metal slab and extending across the full width the-reof at right angles to the centerline thereof, a multiplicity of spaced narrow-faced back-up rolls mounted on backer plates and disposed in rows with their axes between each of said centerless rollers on the side thereof away from said metal slab with each of said back-up rolls bearing against two adjacent centerless rollers in support thereof, there being at least two back-up rolls in each of said rows, and lfurther lproviding roller banks disposed adjacent each of the narrow sides of the metal slab whereby said rectangular channel is formed.

2. The improvement in a roller spray apron for continuous casting machines as in claim 1 wherein said back-up rolls are sealed roller bearings.

3. The improvement in a roller spray apron for con-v tinuous casting machines as in claim 1 wherein said centerless rollers are supported at their ends between support members by pins carried by one of said centerless rollers and support members engaged in corresponding oversized `holes disposed in the other of said centerless rollers and support members.

i 4.1The improvement in a roller spray apron for continuous casting machines as in claim 1 wherein each of said centerless rollers extend only partway across the width of said metal sla'b and more than one centerless rollers are disposed end to.end in axial coincidence to bridgefsaid width, said backer plates carrying supports for the ends of said centerless rollers disposed within n said Width.

5. In a roller sprayapron for continuous casting machines having roller banks disposed so as to form a channel of rectangular cross section to support and restrain the -four sides of a continuous metal'slab emanating from a continuous casting mold, the improvement of providing roller 4banks for the wide sides of said metal slab comprising a multiplicity of closelyV spaced parallel centerless work rollers mounted within the rollerfspray apron ladjacent to each of the wide sides of said metal slab and extending across the full width thereof at right angles to the centerline thereof, a multiplicity of spaced narrow-faced back-up rolls mounted on backer plates and disposed in rows with their axes between each of` said centerless rollers on the side thereofaway from'said metal slab with each of said back-up rolls bearing against two adjacent centerless rollers in support thereof, there being at least two back-up rolls in each of said rows, means for lubricating the bearings of said back-up rolls, said backer plates having a plurality of spaced openings therethrough with spray nozzles extending therethrough adapted to spray coolant onto said metal slab, said backup rolls being disposed on said backer plate between said openings, and further providing roller banks disposed adjacent each of the narrow sides of the metal slab whereby said rectangular channel is formed.

6. In `a roller spray apron for continuous casting machines having roller banks disposed so as to form a channel of rectangular cross section to support and restrain the four sides of a continuous metal slab emanat- 1 ing from a continuous casting mold, the improvement of providing roller banks for the wide sides of said metal slab comprising a multiplicity of closely spaced parallel centerless work rollers mounted within the roller spray apron adjacent to each of the wide sides of said metal slab and extending across the full width thereof at right angles to the centerline thereof, said centerless rollers being supported at their ends between support members having pins engaged in corresponding oversized holes in the ends of said centerless rollers, a multiplicity of spaced narrow-faced sealed back-up roller bearings mounted on hacker plates and disposed in rows with their axes between each of said centerless rollers on the side thereof away from said metal slab with each of said back-up roller bearings bearing 4against two adjacent centerless rollers in support thereof, there being at least two back-up roller bearings spaced along each of said rows, said backer plates having a plurality o-f spaced openings therethrough with spray nozzles extending therethrough adapted to spray coolant onto said metal slab, said back-up roller bearings being ldisposed between said openings on said backer plate, and further providing roller banks disposed Iadjacent each of the narrow sides of the metal slab Whereby said rectangular channel is formed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 867,315 10/1907 Somers 72-160 2,058,447 10/ 1936 Hazelett 22-200.1 2,075,394 3/ 1937 Hazelett 22-200.1 2,284,503 5/ 1942 Williams 22-200.1 2,450,428 10/ 1948 Hazelett 22-200.1 XR 3,130,459 4/1964 Bungeroth et al. 22-57.2 3,268,956 8/1966 Lemper 22-57.2

FOREIGN PATENTS 580,262 7/ 1959 Canada.

680,036 2/1964 Canada.

826,833 5/ 1960 France.

I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

R. S. ANNEAR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A ROLLER SPRAY APRON FOR CONTINUOUS CASTING MACHINES HAVING ROLLER BANKS DISPOSED SO AS TO FORM A CHANNEL OF RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTION TO SUPPORT AND RESTRAIN THE FOUR SIDES OF A CONTINUOUS METAL SLAB EMANATING FROM A CONTINUOUS CASTING MOLD, THE IMPROVEMENT OF PROVIDING ROLLER BANKS FOR THE WIDE SIDES OF SAID METAL SLAB COMPRISING A MULTIPLICITY OF CLOSELY SPACED PARALLEL CENTERLESS WORK ROLLERS MOUNTED WITHIN THE ROLLER SPRAY APRON ADJACENT TO EACH OF THE WIDE SIDES OF SAID METAL SLAB AND EXTENDING ACROSS THE FULL WIDTH THEREOF AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE CENTERLINE THEREOF, A MULTIPLICITY OF SPACED NARROW-FACED BACK-UP ROLLS MOUNTED ON BACKER PLATES AND DISPOSED IN ROWS WITH THEIR AXES BETWEEN EACH OF SAID CENTERLESS ROLLERS ON THE SIDE THEREOF AWAY FROM SAID METAL SLAB WITH EACH OF SAID BACK-UP ROLLS BEARING AGAINST TWO ADJACENT CENTERLESS ROLLERS IN SUPPORT THEREOF, THERE BEING AT LEAST TWO BACK-UP ROLLS IN EACH OF SAID ROWS, AND FURTHER PROVIDING ROLLER BANKS DISPOSED ADJACENT EACH OF THE NARROW SIDES OF SAID METAL SLAB WHEREBY SAID RECTANGULAR CHANNEL IS FORMED. 